Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday urged the Department of Transportation, or DoTr, to revoke the yearend deadline for jeepney drivers to consolidate themselves into cooperatives or corporations.
The elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. slammed the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program originally launched in 2017 to make the country's public transportation system efficient and environmentally compliant.
"I call on the DoTr to revoke the 'deadly deadline' of the PUV modernization program that has fallen short of compliance since 2017," she said.
"Clearly, there is a need to return to exhaustive meetings and consultations with all groups of operators, drivers, and commuters," she added.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the consolidation deadline will not be extended past 31 December. "The PUV consolidation deadline stays," he stressed.
"This initiative has gained the support of majority of our PUV operators as around 70 percent of them have already taken part in the consolidation process," he added.
Launched in 2017, the PUV modernization program has been postponed several times.
The deadline for the PUV modernization program was originally set on 30 June this year but was moved to 31 December to give more time for jeepney operators to comply with the modernization requirements.
Part of the program requires phasing out the traditional jeepneys, buses, and other PUVs that are at least 15 years old.
Senator Marcos said the government will subsidize only P210,000 to P280,000 of the P2.5-million cost of a new Euro-4 PUV model, which would make it difficult for ordinary jeepney drivers to procure a modern unit.
"Who doesn't want a new vehicle? But with the high cost of living, how many can afford one?" she asked.
"Even dealers of new vehicles, spare parts, and maintenance services are not ready to meet the sudden demand. TESDA itself admitted that it has only prepared for the repair of Euro-2 PUVs," she said.
She continued: "And why should thousands of operators and drivers be forced to become members of transport cooperatives? Having been owners and small entrepreneurs, will they become mere employees in a coop?"
Marcos raised concerns about the 6-percent per annum, or 0.5 percent per month, interest rate for PUV modernization loans, which are payable up to seven years.
She asked if an operator or driver loan would be guaranteed by the cooperative, or should the loan payment become problematic, would the coop answer for it.
With the high cost of a new vehicle, the senator said transport fare hikes would be inevitable.
"Complex as these issues are, we would do well to listen to the grievances of the PUV operators, drivers, and commuters. Above all, the LTO and DoTr should quit threatening them with deadlines, suspensions, and franchise revocations."
Earlier yesterday, the Supreme Court asked the DoTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to comment on the petition against the PUVMP.
The DoTr and LTFRB were given 10 days to respond to the petition filed by public utility jeepney operators and transport groups led by PISTON.
The DoTr and LTFRB were ordered to personally file with the court and personally serve on the petitioners their respective comments.
The petitioners led by PISTON chair Modesto Floranda and Bayan Muna Partylist coordinators Edwin Mabazza, Jason Fajilagutan and Gaylord Despuez filed the petition before the Supreme Court on 19 December seeking to enjoin the enforcement and declare the nullity of the memorandum circulars and department orders issued by the DoTr and LTFRB that set the guidelines for the PUV modernization program.
Transport groups had warned that the government would not be able to stop the impending transport crisis next year as fewer jeepneys will be available for the public.
Earlier this month, President Marcos reiterated that the government would no longer extend the 31 December deadline for the consolidation of PUV operators.
Citing government data, he noted that at least 70 percent of operators across the country had consolidated under the PUV modernization program.
"We cannot let the minority cause further delays, affecting the majority of our operators, banks, financial institutions and the public at large," the President said.
"Adhering to the current timeline ensures that everyone can reap the benefits of the full operationalization of our modernized public transport system. Hence, the scheduled timeline will not be moved," he added.
